Diman students to showcase skills at open house on Sunday

Saturday

Mar 22, 2014 at 12:09 AMMar 22, 2014 at 12:13 AM

Michael Gagne Herald News Staff Reporter @HNMikeGagne

FALL RIVER — Liquid nitrogen, ice cream lollipops, electronics and student-made mouthguards are among the many student demonstrations and projects that will be showcased during Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s annual open house, to be held this Sunday afternoon.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will run from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“You are going to see our students front and center,” said Thomas Aubin, Diman’s vocational occupational coordinator, adding that students “will be showing off higher level skills.”

Students and teachers provided a preview of the demonstrations and projects that will be seen during a visit to the school Thursday morning. There will be 16 shops providing demonstrations and showing off projects.

Dental assisting students showed how they were making from scratch multi-colored mouthguards for protective use in mixed martial arts and to prevent teeth grinding.

Another group of students will demonstrate the school’s radiology imaging technology, similar to the machinery used in most dental offices.

“It’s an actual machine ... Students will be explaining the process,” said Maria Torres, a dental assisting instructor.

Down the hallway, culinary arts students Shelby Botelho and Paula Pimento will be among those students demonstrating the science in cooking. They will use an “anti-griddle” to make peanut butter lollipops, and use liquid nitrogen in a variety of applications, freezing foam, pennies and flowers.

A side note, as instructor Phillip Pietrangelo explained, one can tell a penny that was minted prior to the 1980s by smashing it after it has been frozen in liquid nitrogen. Pre-1980s, pennies were made of copper, and will not shatter under a hammer’s blow. Since then, pennies are made of zinc and copper coated. They shatter when struck by a hammer.

“This isn’t your 1970s culinary program any more,” Aubin said, following the demonstrations.

Students in the electronics department will demonstrate a variety of projects, including a cube that plays a programmed melody and flashes lights. Christopher Pacheco, an electronics student who is also a musician, explained that he was working on a concept he called “Piano Hero,” which was inspired by the popular “Guitar Hero” video games.

On Saturday, the school will hold an all-day trade fair during which student projects and demonstrations will be adjudicated.

“This is a great event for the public,” said Diman principal Brian Bentley. “These students are so talented.”